A reader named Klaudia is expecting her fourth child, a baby girl, and she’d like some help brainstorming for a first and a middle name. Here’s what Klaudia says:
We like…unusual names. I mean, not names that sound “made-up” but real names. At least, not trendy, popular names.
Juniper was at the top of their list, but then a friend used it, so now they’re back to the drawing board.
A few more details:
- The first name should have 3 syllables.
- The middle name should have 2 syllables and start with an n.
- The surname will be a one-syllable s-name.
- The older siblings are named Kendra Darlene, Carmen Nellie and Matteo Kendell.
I think Juniper paired with an n-name would have sounded nice, so I tried to come up with a lot of name suggestions that also include the letter n:
Acacia Adelaide Adina Allegra Angela Annabelle Belinda Bethany Bettina Bianca |
Cynthia Daniela Dominique Felicia Francesca Genevieve Henriette Honora Juliet Justina |
Lucinda Lydia Marcella Melinda Minerva Miranda Monica Priscilla Ramona Regina |
Sabrina Simona Sunniva Susanna Sylvia Valerie Rosemary Venetia Winifred Yolanda |
None of the above are currently in the top 100.
Now middles. It’s tricky to pick a middle if the first isn’t already in place, but here are some possibilities. Names on the left have a stress on the first syllable, names on the right have a stress on the second syllable.
Nina Nita Nola Norah Norma |
Nadine Nanette Nicole Noelle Noreen |
What first names would you suggest for the sibling of Kendra, Carmen and Matteo? What middle names would you pair with those first names?
Most of these names are not currently in the top 1000 in the USA (and some have never been).
Acacia
Adela
Adora
Adria
Alberta
Alessa
Althea
Allegra
Amabel
Amalia (three or four syllables, depending on pronunciation)
Amalie
Amethyst
Amity
Ananda
Anisa
Anita
Annelise
Aretha
Azura
Beatrice
Beatrix
Bernadette
Beverly
Dorothy
Flavia
Ginevra
Hannelore
Idony
Imogen
Linnea
Marianne
Mariel
Sidony
Susannah
Winifred
Here are some rarely used N-names.
Nadine
Nanette
Nina
Nona
Noreen
Norma
I also notice that K (or hard C) and L also feature prominently in the names they’ve already used; so, Nicole may be a winner. I also thought of Francesca and Bianca but I like the list you made. Maybe also
Danica
Annika
Leandra
Eloise
Anita
Camilla (I kinda like all the girls’ names starting with the same sound.)
Marisol
Lorelei
Josephine
Jacqueline
Celia/Cecilia (depending on which you consider to have 3 syllables)
Raquel (I like! except it only has 2 syllables, sigh)
Congratulations and Good Luck!
The other children have very similar sounds to their names: Kendra, Carmen, and Kendell. Maybe something like Annika or Nikita to tie in similar sounds?
Michaela
Sunita
Caroline/Carolyn/Carolee
Rosalie
The first name that popped into my head was one we’ve discussed before, Casilda.
Oh… I like a ton of names on this list! Here are a few combos I like, some from the list, some not:
Rosemary Nanette
Genevieve Nicole or Genevieve Nancy
Bettina Noelle
Vivienne Nola
Penelope (even though it has four syllables) Nina
Annelise Noelle/Nancy
Carlotta Nicole
What do you think?
Rosalie Nanette.
Thanks so much for the suggestions, everyone!
Karen L & C in DC – Great idea to use sounds in the sibling names as a guide.
Thanks, everyone!
So far, we like Daniela, Danica, Annabelle/bel, Bettina, Genevieve, Miranda and Marcella as a first name. I think Noreen sounds great as a middle name for Daniela, Danica, Genevieve and Miranda. Annabel, Bettina and Marcella sound nice with Nina, Nicole/Nicoline and Noelle, respectively.
I just though of another name- Aniela. Like Daniela but without the “D”. Aniela Nanette. Hmm… must think some more!
I love Miranda! Especially Miranda Noreen. But I love Annabel. I thought about Miranda Annabel Noreen or Annabel Miranda Noreen, but I don’t think they sound so great. Hm… maybe Marcella Noreen…
Okay… here we go!
We decided on using Annika because a) it has the ‘Ann’ part of ‘Ann’abel, b) it’s a family name and c) it is really close to the contender Danica.
Her name will be Annika Nicole.
Thanks everyone!
Very nice choice! Congratulations and Good Luck, again.
Thanks :)